Big 12 Conference admits to 'officiating errors' in Kansas-Iowa State

Feb. 26, 2013
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Iowa State Cyclones player Georges Niang (31) tries to take a charge against Kansas Jayhawks player Elijah Johnson (15) in the second half at Hilton Coliseum. Kansas beat Iowa State 108-96. / Reese Strickland, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

If bubble team Iowa State fails to make the NCAA tournament field of 68 teams, it will now have an admitted missed call to blame.

The Cyclones, in need of a signature win against Big 12 leader Kansas on Monday, coughed up a five-point lead with 35 seconds left against the Jayhawks. But it was a last-second play at the end of the game that angered Iowa State fans.

The Big 12 Conference released a statement regarding the officiating during the Cyclones' 108-96 overtime loss to Kansas on Monday night.

"The Big 12 Conference acknowledges that officiating errors were made at the end of regulation during last night's Kansas at Iowa State men's basketball game. The plays have been reviewed and appropriate measures will be taken by the Coordinator of Men's Basketball Officials to adjust the number of future assignments for the two officials involved in conjunction with Conference policies."

The Cylcones held a two-point lead when Georges Niang appeared to draw a charging foul on the Jayhawks point guard Elijah Johnson.

The original contact was ignored, but a loose ball foul was eventually called on Niang. Johnson, who finished with a career-high 39 points, made two game-tying free throws with five seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg was seen yelling at one of the referees leaving the floor after the game.

"I thought Georges made a heck of a play by stepping in there and drawing contact," Hoiberg said in the postgame press conference."But, hey, it happens in this game. It didn't go our way."